How to write mindless poetry

Do you want to write mindless poetry? Easy. Get a machine to do it. You won't need to think about it at all. You simply press the key and the computer will write your poem for you. Sadly, this is becoming a popular trend on Facebook poetry groups. 

Several people have asked me why we ban the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated poetry on Invisible Poets group. It's quite simple.

Firstly, it's very lazy. Anyone can click on ChatGPT for example, and ask it to generate a poem on any subject (many other free AI tools are available). This requires absolutely no talent or creativity.  Let's say you want a five stanza poem on love. In seconds you have something like this:

In the dance of hearts, a melody sweet,
Love's symphony, in whispers discreet.
Through moonlit nights and sunlit days,
A timeless bond that forever sways.

Eyes that speak in a silent prose,
A language only true lovers know.
In every touch, a tender embrace,
Love's magic transcends time and space.

Through stormy seas or skies serene,
Love's fortress strong, an eternal sheen.
A tapestry woven with threads so fine,
Two souls entwined, an intertwining line.

In laughter shared and tears that fall,
Love weathers storms, standing tall.
A journey marked by moments divine,
A love story, forever to shine.

So let the echoes of love resound,
In every heartbeat, in love, be found.
A poem written in the language of the heart,
A masterpiece, where love is art. 

Well, at first glance, it seems like a reasonable poem. But read it more thoughtfully and you'll see it's not very good poetry. It is literally mindless. It uses cliches in a predictable 8 syllable, 4 step AABB rhyme scheme. It's bland, soulless, and takes no creativity or effort on your part.  In ChatGPT-3, the same words seem to appear repeatedly, such as serene, tapestry, entwined, embrace, eternal, etc. These are all tell-tale signs the poem was not written by a human. 

Now why would you want to put your name to such drivel? 

Furthermore, you wouldn't do it if you knew how AI actually works. It spiders (searches) all the poetry on the web (other poets' work), gathers expressions, lines and rhymes and stitches it all together so you can pretend you wrote it. It's plagiarism. It's dishonest. It's theft.

Now why would you want to associate yourself with that? And yet... and yet... a small minority in the group still persist, thinking they can fool everyone. They end up being banned from the group, and their name forwarded to the Admin of many other groups. Game over. 

If we suspect a poem has been AI generated we remove it from the group. If the member persists and posts more, we eventually remove them from the group. We throw people out of the group every week for trying to pass of AI poetry as their own. We don't lose sleep over it. We want to protect the integrity of the group and the interests of our members. There is software that can detect whether AI has been used, and we also have computer scientists on our Admin/Moderator team who are experienced in the use of AI.

So please don't even think about generating poems using AI. Write your own poetry. Poetry you can be proud of. Express yourself in your own words. Steer away from the kind of bland, soulless AI lines you see in the verses above. We don't want mindless poetry. We want soulful, authentic, from the heart poetry!

Come back at me if you disagree with any of this. I like a good fight.

Steve Wheeler 

Image from Pxhere

Punctuation In Poetry

It’s easy to just ignore punctuation and just say it’s your style to leave it all out. I know… because I have for years! Hey… that’s just my style! 

However, as I’ve gotten older, I have found that the use of particular punctuation marks really help the reader to separate ideas, organize flow, and accentuate particular themes. 

One thing that has always got me is what the difference is between colons and semicolons. Semicolons (;) are used between two complete sentences. They simply take the place of conjunctions like and, but, so, or, nor, for, yet… and so on. Colons (:) are used at the end of a statement to introduce a list of related ideas.  So there definitely is a difference.

Commas (,) might also introduce a quagmire… yet they aren’t all that complex. They simply separate words and phrases before a conjunction (like and or but), as well as separated introductory phrases such as “Before the game, I got a hot dog”.

Dashes (-) can be used as commas- but they should be used discretely. Another matter of style there! They look just like hyphens (-) which pair compound words like merry-go-round or user-friendly.

Many of these are more geared toward writing outside of poetry, yet it is good to be aware of what you can use to elevate your writing when you are a poet.

Question marks (?) are used in poetry for dramatic effect at the end of a sentence or phrase in an interrogative (or inquiring) manner. Exclamation marks (!) also place a dramatic effect in an exclamatory way… to stress passion or urgency. Look out!

Apostrophes (‘) are used to mark possession. You put the apostrophe after a plural noun such as “students’ grades” as opposed to one “student’s grades”. They replace words as in  “Johnny’s”, meaning “Johnny is…” They can also mark contractions and quotations within quotations. 

Quotation marks (“) surround words or phrases to inform the reader of something spoken or copied, as well as to quote as unique or ironic. In poetic prose, they always go BEFORE the period.

Ellipsis (…) is a curious beast. It marks the omission of a word or words. The use of it as a pause is not really grammatically correct, though I think that the ever changing grammatical world we live in considers its use to indicate there is more to be said… especially within the texting format. I use it as a dramatic pause in my poems- it’s simply another matter of style, really.

I’ve not seen much use of parentheses () in poetry, though it can be incorporated. They are usually utilized for information that is not essential (but a good footnote) to a sentence. See how I did that?! 

Lastly, minimizing capital letters tends to annoy grammatical purists. Using capital letters is proper and I will not refute that. However, it is also a manner of style. I personally do this too. It’s bad I know. But what the hey, it worked for e.e. cummings!

These punctuation marks are more than just doodles on a keyboard! They are ammunition to use in knocking down obstructions of understanding between the poet and the reader. When you know how to properly use punctuation marks, it only increases the tools you need to get your message successfully clear and precise.

I hope this is helpful! Please feel free to add anything I may have missed, and thanks for reading!

Matt Elmore

Using Elizabethan English

Language is always evolving. As Jeff Lynne once said 'It's a living thing...' English is a particularly rich and complex language that has drawn upon multiple sources and ages to bring it to its present state. 

Elizabethan English (EE) seems to be a version of English that many poets are drawn to. Perhaps they wish to draw inspiration from the Stratford Bard himself, William Shakespeare, whose poems and plays span 1580-1610; or maybe they wish to echo the poetic scriptures of the King James Bible, first published around 1611.

Whatever the motivation, when it's done well, a modern poem written in Elizabethan English (more accurately Early Modern English) can be quite impressive. When it's done badly, it can be an absolute disaster. I have witnessed many poets, who don't quite have a full understanding of EE, struggling terribly to try to articulate their ideas.

So, for those who would love to write this archaic form of poetry, but don't yet have the skill, here is a crash course in how to do it...

Let's start off with the simple phrase 'You have made it.' It's a past participle phrase. It has been made, and it was you who made it. You could articulate it like this:

Thou hast made it. 

...or better still ...

Thou hast fashioned it

...or the ultimate...

It hath been fashioned by thy hand.

Some of the archaic EE words can be brought to bear to transform a mundane phrase into something special. Here's another example:

You will, as time passes, see yourself differently

...becomes...

Thou wilt, as time passeth, see thyself differently.

Remember the following common verbs...

Has = hath (he/she) or hast (thou)

Shall = shalt

Will = wilt

Can = canst 

Does = doeth 

Are = art

... and other verbs that can often be extended by the suffix '-eth', e.g. walketh, maketh or sleepeth. 

...and for the use of the first person...

You = thou or thee

Your = thy

Yours = thine

These are merely the rudimentary rules of EE grammar. There's plenty more to be learnt. I hope this helps you if you're intent on writing poetry in the archaic style of Elizabethan English. I wish thee good fortune. 

Steve Wheeler 

Image from Wikimedia Commons 

Identifying Perspectives

Have you ever considered what would happen if you were the only person left on the planet? Although we generally like to think of ourselves as somewhat entertaining, don’t you think that would get boring after awhile?

Perhaps you have heard the term “opposites attract”… two distinctly different people being drawn to each other? What causes that magnetism… and sustains such relationships?

Our world is comprised not only of many different cultures, geographies, and societal conditions, it is also drawn together by just as many similarities. I believe that it is both these differences AND commonalities that create our poetic perspective.

To call perspective a “worldview” is to narrow it down to particular ideologies such as religion, politics, and nationality. I believe perspective calls all these into play… yet it can also draw upon tastes in art, character, and individual dignity. We are the sum of our experiences!

When applied to poetry, perspective can be debilitating, due to the poet’s particular background and way of looking at things. We have to widen our scopes as poets!

The most versatile bards are those that transcend their own personal opinions. They take on different subjects and points of view, then reconcile them with their own. In doing so, they create a unique perspective, or make a more complex statement of universal purpose.

Addressing something so simple as differing views on fashion, or even what is preferable weather, can create an enjoyable palette of variations. Getting a bit more complex, one might negotiate differentiating life goals or personal agendas, or find a common ground in conservative and liberal viewpoints. If you discover the latter,… let me know! We could all use that!

Being a poet is all about identifying perspectives. Being a next level poet involves reconciling as many perspectives as one possibly can within reason. It is in finding out the commonalities of our differences that we may make this a better world through our art… as something EVERYONE can relate to.

Matt Elmore

Image by: Unsplash

Paraprosdokian: How to use it

As many of you know language is a powerful tool that allows us to express our thoughts, ideas, and inner emotions. Within the vast realm of rhetoric lies a fascinating figure of speech called paraprosdokian. Although not considered a device many find this witty technique as significant. With its unexpected twists and surprising endings, paraprosdokian adds a touch of humor and thought-provocation to the spoken or written word. In this blog I’m crafting we will explore the significance of paraprosdokian and delve into a few examples that showcase its unique charm.

Paraprosdokian is a figure of speech that involves a sudden shift in meaning or a clever twist at the end of a phrase or sentence. It catches the listener or reader off guard, oftentimes creating a humorous or thought-provoking effect. By defying what’s expected and subverting conventional linguistic patterns, paraprosdokian adds an element of surprise to the reader as well as an intriguing approach to what it’s trying to convey. I’ve used this technique countless times especially when I used to write humorous scripts for my friends claymation plannings. 

One of the primary reasons paraprosdokian is significant is its ability to evoke surprise. We oftentimes are wired to seek patterns and make assumptions based on our past experiences as well as our knowledge of what should be. Paraprosdokian capitalizes on this tendency and takes full advantage by setting up a familiar pattern or expectation and then abruptly shattering it. The resulting surprise triggers a delightful response, capturing attention as well as ultimately a stimulating engagement.

Paraprosdokian is very often associated with humor and wit. The unexpected twist in these linguistic constructions can generate laughter, as the listener's mind adjusts from one interpretation to another. The element of surprise, combined with the clever wordplay, tickles our sense of humor and leaves us amused. Many comedians and humorists frequently employ paraprosdokians effectively to inject their performances with comedic brilliance.

Beyond its comedic appeal, paraprosdokian serves as a tool for thought-provocation. By disrupting the anticipated flow of words, it challenges our preconceived notions and encourages us to think more deeply. Paraprosdokians prompt us to reevaluate our assumptions and consider alternative perspectives. They can be used to convey social commentary, irony, or even to highlight contradictions, making them a valuable device for critical thinking and reflection.

A few examples of Paraprosdokian:

1. "I asked the doctor if I would ever be able to run like a gorilla. He replied, 'Of course! Just not during my office hours.'"

-The twist in this example lies in the fact that the doctor's response seems to address the question positively at first, but ultimately implies that the person should not run like a gorilla during the doctor's office hours.

2. "I'm not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing."

-This statement initially seems self-deprecating, implying that the speaker lacks intelligence. However, the twist comes when they reveal that they are aware of their shortcomings, suggesting that they are not entirely foolish.

3. "I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure."

-This sentence creates a total paradox by implying a change in the speaker's indecisiveness. The unexpected twist lies in the fact that their uncertainty extends even to their claim of being less indecisive.

Paraprosdokian, with its unexpected endings and surprising twists, adds a touch of whimsy, wit, and thought provocation to our language. By defying expectations and challenging our assumptions, paraprosdokians definitely captivate our attention and can leave a lasting impact. Whether in humor, social commentary, or everyday conversation, this technique invites us to revel in the beauty of linguistic surprises and embrace the power of unexpected endings. So, the next time you encounter a paraprosdokian, allow yourself to be delighted by its clever wordplay and revel in the joy of linguistic surprises. I also encourage those interested to give this a go. Don’t worry you have full permission, other than from everyone else. 

By: Brandon Adam Haven 

Meme created by Chris Cunitz used with permission. 

Poetic devices 17: Antithesis

An antithesis is the opposite to a thesis. A thesis is an idea, a theory, a concept - something that explains your world to you. The anthesis of good is evil. They are opposed. They are in opposition to each other. They are antithetical. 

In poetry antithesis is a device used to show how two objects or ideas are different to each other. Antithesis can also be used to reinforce the tempo of a poem. Let's explore how this works...

The 1920 poem Fire and Ice by Robert Frost is a classic example of antithesis: 

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

The juxtaposition of fire and ice as two opposing concepts has a dramatic effect on the reader. It creates a tension in the comparisons. It allows the poet to elaborate on the ideas, melding them into a metaphor for love and desire, and also as a device to express his observations on life. It's a rhythmic triumph in the use of antithesis.

Another well known example of antithesis can be found in Hamlet's soliloquy, from the classic play by William Shakespeare. In it, Hamlet is contemplating a perennial antithesis: the meaning of life and the finality of death.

To be or not to be, that is the question

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind

To suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

Or to take up arms against a sea of troubles.

Again, it's very dramatic, and as the soliloquy progresses, it reveals the turmoil present in Hamlet's mind as he battles with his conscience.

Another example of antithesis is present in a famous poem called If, by Rudyard Kipling.

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same...

This is a rather interesting approach to antithesis, because the poet identifies several binaries - opposing ideas like triumph and disaster, and then tells the reader that in reality, they don't really matter - because the character of the person is much more important than the fate that befalls him. It's not so much what happens to you, but how you respond to it that is the key to your success. 

Steve Wheeler

Image used by Creative Commons licence from Flickr

Previous posts in this series:

1. Simile
2. Metaphor
3. Repetition and refrains
4. Alliteration
5. Assonance
6. End Rhymes
7. Internal Rhymes
8. Rhythm and Tempo
9. Enjambment

10. Allegory

11. Metonymy

12. Cacophony

13. Calligram

14. Personification

15. Paradox

16. Euphony

Behind The Scenes: Live Poets Society

Steve Wheeler’s Live Poets Society has become quite a hit on Facebook, and continues to draw a bigger audience each week. I have hosted a few shows, my favorites with fellow poet colleague and friend Brandon Adam Haven. Brandon being at the helm has given the show even more of a boost with his fluid talent and extensive, yet humble, expertise.

Together, we currently tackle the duties of putting on a quality video poetry broadcast for Invisible Poets, Steve’s show being the flagship of Live Poets Society. Steve named to title as a tongue in cheek nod to the Dead Poets Society movie with Robin Williams. 

Fellow Wheelsong author and alumni Charlene Phare has also enjoyed quite a following with her “No Holds Barred” program of similar tone and content. We can’t wait to see her at it again soon!

Reading of the poems lies within “performing” them… giving them all breath and life… with inflections on key words. 

Reading poems is only a small part of the effort to make this kind of show possible. It is the selection of poems that makes the job a challenge. It starts with allowing for a negligible size, format, and content as Steve pointed out in his last blog. Should you have an interest in being on the show you MUST  check it out in this link… 

 https://wheelsongbooks.blogspot.com/2024/01/how-to-get-your-poem-read-on-live-poets.html?m=1

Promoting the best poets is what we do… only next level poems make it on the show. With the growing number of Invisible Poets Group memebrs on Facebook, we’ve found that it takes two shows to do all the poets justice. I don’t believe any other group that I know of is doing two shows a week of this magnitude on social media. Invisible Poets is becoming a premiere poetry group!

Incorporating humor is also an essential element of this particular show… as Steve has his occasional “cleaners” dropping in… or poet dog barking up a soliloquy. For Brandon and I, it is our rap names of BDizzle and Big Stack, or aliens behind me, or whatever is happening around us. We love to be silly and serious both. It gives the show wings. 

I personally believe if the show is a joy to host, which it really is, then it will be a joy to watch, which it has been for poets and poetry admirers both. 

Please join Brandon and I live on Tuesdays at 8 PM UK & 3 PM USA Eastern Standard time… and catch the mothership with Steve on Fridays at the same respective times. Join us and hear quality poetry done up right.

Matt Elmore

How to get your poem read on Live Poets Society

Live Poets Society is an important element of the Invisible Poets group. It's a live show that goes out every Friday at 8pm (UK time; 3pm EST, US) and draws quite a few viewers. The USA version is hosted by Matt Elmore and Brandon Adam Haven at the same time on Tuesdays. Who knows if there will be other spin offs? 

Some editions of Live Poets Society have been known to attract upwards of 1000 views, and all the poems are selected exclusively from Invisible Poets by the hosts. Poets can gain live feedback from viewers on their work, and it's usually very positive! It's quite a hot ticket to get your poetry read out (actually performed) on one of the shows. Many people understandably ask how they get their Poems read on the shows.

Here are some words of advice:

1) You first need to be a member of Invisible Poets poetry group. Click this link to join us! 

2) Share you poem to the group using plain text. We don't read out poetry that's submitted as images or videos. They're just about impossible to transfer across to the system for reading.

3) Lengthy poems are less likely to be selected. The shows are only 30 minutes long, and we like to read as may as we can in the time available. Keep your poems short and punchy if you can. 

4) This last one is subjective, but important, so listen up. We tend to choose poems that are different and out of the ordinary. Quirky and strange is good, bland ad predictable not so much. If you want to catch our eye, write outside of your comfort zone, make your poetry stand out, make it unusual, and highly visible! Take some risks and see what happens. 

Do not try to circumvent the above by attempting to send your poetry direct to one of the presenters. We tend to ignore this approach. 

I hope this helps those who want their poetry showcased on the shows. We are always on the lookout to add to the playlist! 

NB: If you'd like to learn how to enhance and enliven your poetry, check it all of the instructional posts on this blog. There are plenty!

Steve Wheeler 

Image from PickPic

Using poetic devices

A poetic device is any form of literary feature that can be used when writing poetry. Poetic devices are often used to create effects or define different components in a poem. This includes verbal, visual, structural, rhythmic, metrical, grammatical elements. In short, this means just about anything that can be used in poetry to impact the reader. Furthermore, such poetic devices are tools that poets can use to augment the meaning of a poem, perhaps to make it rhythmically pleasing, or to intensify a core emotion, enhance the mood, or pique the look and feel of the poem.

In previous posts (all links listed below) I featured some of the more common poetic devices such as tempo, end rhyme and internal rhyme schemes, simile, metaphor and also several of the lesser known devices. I have also covered some of the commonly used forms in poetry, including villanelle, triolet and pantoum. 

In this new season my plan is to continue, but with the caveat that some of the upcoming blog posts might feature more complex or difficult to master ideas. We are heading into new territory, but if you dare to accompany me, I believe you'll learn a lot about how to take your poetry writing to the next level, and we'll have a lot of fun along the way. 

Please check out all of the previous posts in the series if you wish to either catch up on content you've missed, or simply to refresh your memory. 

Previous posts in this series

1. Simile
2. Metaphor
3. Repetition and refrains
4. Alliteration
5. Assonance
6. End Rhymes
7. Internal Rhymes
8. Rhythm and Tempo
9. Enjambment

10. Allegory

11. Metonymy

12. Cacophony

13. Calligram

14. Personification

15. Paradox

16. Euphony

Steve Wheeler

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Dysphemism: A Poetic device

Within the very vast landscape of poetry, words possess an extraordinary capacity to evoke emotions, challenge norms, and ignite profound contemplation. Poets have long explored an array of literary devices to shape their verses and create a lasting impact on their readers. Among these poetic devices lies the very potent tool of dysphemism, which ultimately allows poets to harness the raw energy of language. In this post, I want to help the reader delve into the art of effectively utilizing dysphemism as well as to explore its advantages to the poet and their articulations. 

Dysphemism is a linguistic phenomenon that involves the substitution of a harsh, offensive, or blunt term in place of a more neutral or positive one. It entails the use of words or phrases that convey negative, derogatory, or emotionally charged connotations. I myself use this technique often to intensity a variety of situations in my works. Through the deliberate application of dysphemism, poets can challenge societal norms, provoke introspection, and hopefully elicit a strong emotional response from their readers.

A few examples of Dysphemism

1. "The politician's promises melted like a rotting carcass in the sun."

   

In this example, the dysphemistic phrase "rotting carcass" is used to depict the politician's broken promises, evoking a sense of decay and dishonesty.

2. "The city streets breathed the stench of desperation and despair."

 

Here, the dysphemistic phrase "stench of desperation and despair" paints a vivid and unsettling image, emphasizing the grim atmosphere of the urban environment.

3. "The war machine devoured the innocence of the young, leaving behind a barren wasteland of shattered dreams."

   

This dysphemistic expression portrays the devastating impact of war by using the metaphorical imagery of a "war machine" and the bleak aftermath of "a barren wasteland of shattered dreams."

In conclusion Dysphemism, as a poetic device, grants poets a powerfully compelling technique to tap into the raw intensity of emotions, challenge conventional thinking, and provoke contemplation. By employing provocative language, poets can evoke authenticity and create emotional depth in their work. Dysphemism allows them to transcend linguistic boundaries, exploring the depths of human experience. However, it is crucial to use dysphemism judiciously, understanding its implications and keeping in mind the desired effect on the reader. Though when wielded skillfully, dysphemism becomes a powerful instrument in the poet's arsenal, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of their audience.

By: Brandon Adam Haven 

Picture used from FreePix